Targeted amendment of the Measuring Instruments Directive
- Commission proposal to harmonise metrological requirements for electric vehicle supply equipment and compressed gas dispensers; and to update requirements for electricity, gas and thermal energy meters
- Annex to the proposal
Evaluation of the metrology legislation
The Commission is evaluating if the metrology framework remains fit for purpose given technological, digitalisation-related and other market developments. Have your say by responding to the targeted metrology consultation by 10 December 2024.
This survey gathers invaluable feedback that will feed into the evaluation findings, conclusions and recommendations.
Evolution of the legislation
- Directive 2014/32/EU on measuring instruments (MID), amended by Directive 2015/13/EU, replacing Directive 2004/22/EC
- covers 10 categories of measuring instruments, and abolishes the corresponding previous legislation, depending on Framework Directive 2009/34/EC codifying Directive 71/316/EEC
- adopts a decisively modern regulatory approach, leaving much more room for technological innovation and more choice for manufacturers in conformity assessment procedures
- aligns Community legislation on international standards, in particular of the OIML and covering the electronic revolution that has characterised measuring instruments since the 1970s
- Directive 2014/31/EU on non-automatic weighing instruments (NAWI) follows the same approach replacing Directive 2009/23/EC, the codification of the original Directive 90/384/EEC
See the summaries of the legislation on measuring instruments and non-automatic weighing instruments (available in all official EU languages).
Implementation of these directives takes place in close cooperation with WELMEC (European Cooperation in Legal Metrology) which serves as a platform for cooperation among 31 European country authorities.
Guidance documents
To ensure a coherent application of the measuring instruments directives, the Commission and WELMEC prepared a set of guidance. The guidance documents were agreed by the Commission's measuring instruments working group that is composed of representatives of authorities, European federations, notified bodies and European standardisation organisations.
More on guidance documents
Report on MID
In 2010 the Commission held a public consultation on the Measuring Instruments Directive 2004/22/EC. The aim of the consultation was to gather feedback on the implementation of the directive and on the reasons and impacts of possible changes.
- Commission services' working document (362 kB, includes the questions)
- All reactions to the public consultation of September to November 2010 (8 MB)
- Report on the Measuring Instruments Directive COM(2011)357 of 17 June 2011
Supporting information
- Directive 2014/32/EU on measuring instruments, amended by Directive 2015/13/EU, has replaced Directive 2004/22/EC from 20 April 2016
- Directive 2014/31/EU on non-automatic weighing instruments has replaced Directive 2009/23/EC from 20 April 2016
The European Commission mandate (782 KB) to CEN, CENELEC and ETSI in the field of measuring instruments is leading to the creation of European standards that will enable interoperability of utility meters (water, gas, electricity and heat) and enhance energy efficiency and user empowerment.
The 2015 mandate M/541 concerns new European standards for the non-exploitation of errors by water and heat meters, metering small-scale delivery of active electricity to the grid and use of energy by electrical vehicles. The new standards are expected to be delivered by the end of 2017.
- Under Directive 2009/23/EC the reference of one harmonised standard on non-automatic weighing instruments has been published in the OJ C 300 of 11.9.2015 [replacing OJ C 153 of 4.6.1994 (p. 17)]
- Under Directive 2004/22/EC the references of harmonised standards have been published in the OJ C 218 of 24.7.2012 (p. 7)
According to Article 14.2 of Directive 2014/32/EU on measuring instruments, normative documents by the 'Organisation Internationale de la Métrologie Légale' (OIML) may be identified as giving presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the Directive. To this end, references to the following normative documents have been published in the Official Journal and specific guidance provided (N.B. according to Article 52(2) of Directive 2014/32/EU references to the repealed Directive 2004/22/EC are construed as references to the current Directive):
| Normative document | Official journal | Guidance |
Water meters - OIML R 49, 2006 and R 49-2, 2004 - 2004/22/EC MI-001 | ||
| Gas meters - OIML R 137, 2012 - 2014/32/EU MI-002 | OJ C 308, 16.9.2017, p. 1 | |
Volume conversion devices - OIML R 140, 2007 - 2004/22/EC MI-002 II | ||
| Active electrical energy meters - OIML R 46, 2012 - 2014/32/EU MI-003 | OJ C 308, 16.9.2017, p. 7 | CT-003, 2016 |
Heat Meters - OIML R 75-1 and R 75-2, 2002 – 2004/22/EC MI-004 | ||
Measuring system for the continuous and dynamic measurement for quantities of liquids other then water - OIML R 117-1, 2007 - 2004/22/EC MI-005 | ||
Automatic catchweighing instruments - OIML R 51-1, 2006 - 2004/22/EC MI-006 II | ||
Automatic gravimetric filling instruments - OIML R 61-1, 2004 - 2004/22/EC MI-006 III | ||
Discontinuous totalisers - OIML R 107-1, 1997 - 2004/22/EC MI-006 IV | ||
Continuous totalisers - OIML R 50-1, 1997 - 2004/22/EC MI-006 V | ||
Automatic rail weighbridges - OIML R 106-1, 1997 - 2004/22/EC MI-006 VI | ||
Taximeters - OIML R 21, 2007 - 2004/22/EC MI-007 II | ||
Capacity serving measures -OIML R 138, 2007 - 2004/22/EC MI-008 II | ||
Length measuring instruments - OIML R 66, 1985 - 2004/22/EC MI-009 II | ||
Area measuring instruments - OIML R 136-1, 2004 - 2004/22/EC MI-009 III | ||
Multidimensional measuring instruments - OIML R 129, 2000 - 2004/22/EC MI-009 IV | ||
Exhaust gas analyser - OIML R 99-1 & 2, 2008 - 2004/22/EC MI-010 |
- Evaluation report on the Measuring Instruments Directive by Centre for Strategy & Evaluation Services (1 MB)
- Details of possible changes to Measuring Instruments Directive (916 kB)
- Details of proposals for new sectors (1 MB)
- Details relevant for impact assessment of 13 new sectors (by Risk & Policy Analysts Limited) (3 MB)
- Survey of small and medium-sized enterprises on sectors for inclusion in the Measuring Instruments Directive (86 kB)
- Summary of responses to the public consultation (March 2011) (680 kB)
- Report on suggestions for amendments and additions to the Measuring Instruments Directive (March 2011) (990 kB)
- Report on the repeal of eight old approach directives in legal metrology (March 2011) (695 kB)